Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
SRGC Shows and Events => Events => Topic started by: Doreen Mear on April 01, 2012, 08:20:07 AM
-
The New Zealand Alpine Garden Society invites you to their forthcoming Study Weekend, ‘In From The Wild: from the Great Outdoors to our Gardens’ to be held at Lincoln University, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand from 1st to 3rd February 2013.
We extend a warm welcome to our two overseas guest speakers, HARRY JANS from the Netherlands and BOB WALLIS from Wales. Harry is well-known as a world traveller and top-class photographer and will be speaking about his travels and how some of the alpine plants he has seen grow in his garden at just 70 ft above sea level! Bob is an expert on bulbous plants, having travelled widely in Europe, Morocco, North America and the Middle East in search of bulbs. He and wife Rannveig maintain a large garden and extensive bulb collection, as well as running their ‘Buried Treasure’ bulb nursery and ‘Buried Promises’ seed business, so we look forward to learning from Bob’s wide experience and hands-on practical advice.
Also on offer are a new DVD from Ian Young, talks and workshops from local presenters, a visit to Broadfields Garden in Christchurch, and the ever-popular specialist plant sales. Finally we hope to round off the weekend with a field trip on the Monday to check out the native flora of the nearby Craigieburn Skifield.
Register your interest now and start planning your New Zealand holiday!
-
Thanks for this Doreen. It all seems much closer once "official" word is out. I hope the Czech Conference doesn't keep away any prospective overseas attenders.
-
Jean Wyllie ( 'the Wily Wifie') would be posting now to say that she is much looking forward to attending.... but she is in hospital right now, having undergone surgery earlier in the week.
Jean is a great fan of all things NZ!
She's determined to be in NZ for the conference ....and for her son's wedding, of course! 8)
-
Maggi, if you're in touch with Jean, please pass on our very best wishes for a speedy recovery from all of us down under. She has ten months to get back on her feet and get down here - and by hook or by crook, I'm sure she'll manage it!
-
Ian spoke to Jean on the phone this morning... she's back home already. Putting her feet up, I hope!
She'll be around the forum soon, I guess.... I expect she's already been online to see what we've been up to!
-
Today my Wife and Daughter and I visited Broadfield Garden to see the Rhodo and Azalea display. We met the owner, David Hobbs, who was a really top bloke. He gave us some great advice and even cuttings to go. I had to post some photos to inspire / excite anyone who is coming to the Study weekend. I have never seen a better display of NZ natives in both formal and informal settings.
There is so much to see on this 8 acres of 'heaven', this is just a tease, don't want to spoil all the treasures!
-
Your photos show a wonderful garden Doug, sure to tempt the traveller.
Bit worried about the size of the sparrows though, for the nervous visitor - your daughter seems relaxed enough with it , but it's a bit bigger than I'm used to! ;)
-
Thanks indeed Doug, for that pre-taste. I had been seriously wondering about options for the Study Weekend. It looks like a lovely place and anywhere that shows native plantings in imaginative and appropriate settings would be welcome. So often natives are badly used and I among others am tempted to be ultra-bored by the endless plantings of roadside grasses and cabbage trees. The wet spring we're having is keeping the place fresh and lush-looking too.
-
Today my Wife and Daughter and I visited Broadfield Garden to see the Rhodo and Azalea display. We met the owner, David Hobbs, who was a really top bloke. He gave us some great advice and even cuttings to go. I had to post some photos to inspire / excite anyone who is coming to the Study weekend.
Hmmm, seems we'll have to choose between the workshops and the visit to Broadfields! How to choose?
I wonder if they'll be providing a bus?
cheers
fermi
-
Doug: Great publicity, thank you! You're one up on me, I've not been to Broadfields yet, and am in the same quandary as Fermi as to whether to go to the workshops or go to Broadfields. Decisions, decisions!
Hmmm, seems we'll have to choose between the workshops and the visit to Broadfields! How to choose?
I wonder if they'll be providing a bus?
cheers
fermi
Yes, Fermi, free transport to Broadfields will be organised, a bus if there's lots of us, maybe car-pooling otherwise. Don't panic, we won't leave you behind! :)
-
Thanks for the reassurance, Doreen ;D
Looking forward to the Study Weekend!
We're booked on a flight to arrive the afternoon of the rego day, so we just need to find our way to Lincoln from the airport. Not sure whether we'll hire a car or get a taxi/bus to the Uni.
Last time we arrived a few days early so we had a hire car which we returned when we got to the Uni and Lesley was kind enough to pick me up from the airport when I returned it. We [Otto, Cynthia and I] got a lift to Mt Cook with Lesley and David Lyttle. This time Di Barrie will be with us as well. We'll have a few days after the Weekend to spend visiting gardens and friends.
cheers
fermi
-
Fermi - We'll look into the shuttle service for you between the airport and Lincoln campus - think it used to be about $50 one-way (that's for the vehicle, not per person) but we'll find out.
Should just recap - although transport to Broadlands on Saturday is provided, everyone needs their own transport to get to Craigieburn on the Monday. We'll put up a list at the weekend to get names and organise car-pooling. Again, we'll try not to leave anyone behind! ;D
If you're staying on for a few days, you could always do the Saturday workshops, then do a private visit to Broadlands later in the week (might do that myself, in fact!)
Doreen
-
Doreen, we've been offered a lift by friendly forumist Susan, who is also attending!
We are staying a few days after the weekend so we'll have to discuss amongst the group from the AGS VG what we do!
cheers
fermi
-
It seems there are new contacts available for this event:
e-mail study@nzags.com for more info and booking forms and there is the opportunity
to book and pay on-line with PayPal on the website www.nzags.com (http://www.nzags.com/node/10)
-
Not sure Ive got the time zone difference worked out correctly but I think that the delegates will be assembling for this event - I know that there have been travellers on the move for a while from the UK so I hope everyone is safely arrived.
Here's hoping you all have a great time - and that the weather is wonderful for the trips!
-
Hi Maggi!
We're here in NZ for the Study Weekend at Lincoln Uni again.
Unfortunately there has been some damage to some buildings by the quakes so venues have been re-organised.
The talks have been great and we hope to get a pic of Forumists later to post when we get the equipment to download pics!
Weather forecast for Monday not looking good at this stage but we live in Hope!
Wonderful to catch up with so many people from previous weekends, including the Wyllie Wifie who is in fine form!
After the conference Di, Cynthia, Otto and I are driving down to Timaru then Dunedin and back again to fly home on Friday,
cheers
fermi
-
I'm just home a couple of hours and right back into packing to move.
It was an excellent weekend, Maggi, superbly organized and if there were any backstage problems, the visitors didn't see any sign of them. Lots of people there including several from the UK apart from the speakers. Don't know how many altogether but the lectures were all well filled as were the workshops.
Rannveig and Bob Wallis are wonderful speakers with incredibly good pictures and Harry Jans was, I think, a favourite with everyone there. They were all great fun. We seem at each successive such weekend to have better speakers; much approachable and fun to be with too.
Ian's video was a real inspiration to everyone, and to me especially as it showed what I can do with some forethought, and will have the right conditions for it. Would love to see the whole video again.
I didn't have the chance to speak with everyone I'd have liked to, but all the same, it was great to meet so many "old" friends and make some new ones.
The field trip to Craigieburn was a bit disappointing because after an incredible spell of warm, dry weather, that day (yesterday), the rains came and the temp dropped dramatically. All the same, the little time we had there was very enjoyable and so far I have no sign of a cold, even though I was drenched literally to the skin. Maybe the quantity of gin I consumed in the evening had something to do with that. :D
I wonder who the organizers can come up with next time to top this super event? :)
-
Blasted weather! Typical of that to end an otherwise wonderful event - every organiser must dread that their meticulous planning can literally be rained on. But, after the earthquake, there has been a lot that has been overcome to allow the event to take place so what a triumph that has been! There is always nature to remind us that we're not completely in control.
I have yet to meet anyone who is not entirely captivated by Harry - he is a great guy. I have a sneaking suspicion that Hannie, a skier, might have been looking at some of those mountains and thinking they'd be a lot of fun with snow on them! ;)
So good to hear that you've been having such a great time with all the other attendees -the break will have done you a power of good - back to the moving business now though!
Hope the Aussie Gang have a good trip south - I hope you gave them all a big hug from me?
-
Will do Maggi. ;D
-
A few pics from the NZAGS STudy W/E
- some of the speakers and SRGC Forumists on the w/e,
- why Lesley wasn't in the pic - still minding the stall!
- Doug doing a sterling job on trying to convert Adrian to the joys of growing Arisaemas
cheers
fermi
-
How could you Fermi? I though you were my friend! I look like a frightened rabbit, caught in the glare of a car's headlights.
Which reminds me that I sent you an email today but it came back as undeliverable so I'll do a PM instead.
-
sorry :-[ , Lesley, but there was a horde of buyers about to descend on you!
I'll reply to your PM when I get a chance on Monday - plans for the rest of our trip - between finishing the conference and flying out of Dublin on June 1st - have yet to be finalised! :o
cheers
fermi
-
Latest news from NZAGS : http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=10270.0 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=10270.0) :)